Which Michael Jackson song was Michael Jackson?!?!?!?

I admit that I was shocked when I heard that Michael Jackson had died. I thought it was a joke actually since Farrah had just died, but as soon as his death was confirmed - the dead jokes started - the confirmation that death of a celebrity has occurred....sad, but a true sign of the times and yet - I laughed at a couple.

So let's review the years of Michael Jackson - oh wait - we have been exposed to the non-stop Michael Jackson infomercial since late on Thursday - and you would have thought that Pope John Paul II had died. I'm just saying....ok back to Jackson.....I am old-school Jackson up through the 1984 - where is was just beginning to change to a white man. Beyond that - he was just a freak of nature and yet when you hear his friends talk about him - they say he was genuine friend. My husband thinks that he just needed someone normal in his life to tell him to "Snap the h*ll out of it!!!" Even his music turned freaky - in my opinion - when the mask appeared - his music disappeared.

I still have my Thriller cassette (which still works in my car - hey it is paid for), but what I really wish is that I still had my 45 of ABC.....now that would be worth some cash.

The funny thing is that my kids never knew Michael was anything, but a crazy white man who slept with little boys and I never think of him other than a black man - I could see beyond the dimpled chin, cartoon nose, and bleached skin.

My son wrote on his face book that he was confused how a proud African American man could die as a frail Asian woman?!?!?! You know what - a good point to ponder.

So what song would he be??? It's obvious - "Black and White." This is probably to safest bet since it spans the old school fans like me (black Jackson) and the younger fans who favor his recent music (white Jackson).

Okay I am done with the whole Michael Jackson thing because now Papa Joe Jackson has appeared all dapper with the media - now it has turned into a circus....I'm just saying.

Bangers and Mash with a serving of British News

I have to admit that I love reading the British news - I read it everyday...sometimes two or more times a day. The Brits just seem to have a better handle on the news - in my opinion. Their media coverage doesn't seem to have the layers of political and social correctness that has paralyzed the US media. They cover the good, bad and the ugly and it if is ugly - they say so. The only thing that seems to be off limits is Prince William....they go after his dad and his brother on a regular basis, but William still seems to have a free press pass. That's ok with me as I think he is one of the good guys; although, poor chap is losing his hair at such an early age. Of course with all the palaces, palace jewels, titled properties and worldly freebies.....one can over look the the bald spot. Maybe the next thing will be royal hair plugs......its just a thought. Okay I digress. The Brits call out their politicians and hound them when there is controversy and stay on the story until they resign under public pressure. When did the US decide that was no longer necessary???? Why are we, the US media and readers, so concerned about swaddling people and their feelings??? I think that we need to be tougher journalists and we, the readers, should demand tougher journalists. Quite frankly I am tired of reading the rose colored news.......if it is ugly - call it ugly. Of course, if for any reason Prince William comes to the US - please refer to the British Handbook of Etiquette.....as this is a level of journalism that we are not schooled nor do we have any experience!!!!! By the way - I have a tiara if that helps me secure a royal press pass. Next, adopting British phrases and traditions which will be quicker than you can say "Bob's your uncle" while passing me a serving of bangers and mash followed by a serving of spotted dick. What?!?!?!

Writer's Block, Brats, and Hormones

I think that I have encountered writer's block......I am beginning to think that it is the lack of estrogen. How do other writers move pass the block??? Well, the good writers drank to excess or were heavily medicated with illegal drugs........do I have those options? Uh, no.....I could drink but don't want to; could take drugs since I have prescriptions, but I believe that might lead to a destructive pattern. So what do I do???? I could write about politics - so many issues - so little time. And don't get me started on the Obama infomerical that will be occurring on ABC. I could write about the crazy rabbit woman that got arrested again in Oregon - what the heck. Is she the next Cruella De'ville and raising them for fur coats or she is a whack job?!?!?! I am going with the latter. I could write about the fact that I wanted Chinese food tonight and when I called to order - no one picked up.....what the heck. I have never known a Chinese restaurant to go out of business - they usually only move - they never close. I could write about how I am addicted to Farm Town on Facebook - I love planting crops and selling them. I could write about how I love to write and I wish I could do it full time - just need someone to pay me for it.....hello....anyone listening on this one??? I could write about how I have found the perfect Texas house that currently happens to be out of our price range....oh I do love this house. I could write about how I want to live to Colorado full time, in the mountains and raise buffalo.....yes that is one of the things that I want to do. I could write about how instead of Chinese food tonight - we are having brats.

So does this mean that I have gotten over my block since I am writing?!?!?!? Hhhhmmmm - that is a point to ponder. I think that I am back,but just in case - I am gong to Walmart to see if I can find some estrogen and progesterone cream that I can rub into my skin. - just in case it is the hormones. Got a run - I need to eat my brat.

"Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!!!"

OK - I know that I have been off-line for about a week and for that I apologize. I have heard from many of you and I wanted to say thanks for missing the blog....that means a lot to me!!!! OK so quick sidebar about the surgery.....last Thursday. As I was getting prepped for surgery, Dr. Fine told me that we were waiting for a different anesthesiologist as mine had been out riding his bike earlier in the day and he fell off his bike and broke his hip. And he was 4 waiting rooms down from me getting prepped for surgery at the same time that I was...this is why I don't exercise - it can kill ya. But Dr. Walker was a great replacement as I found out that he was born in Topeka and went to college in Kansas. With great anticipation, I was hoping for KSU, but no - he went to KU. I told him that I wouldn't hold that against him since red and blue bleeds purple... not sure that he thought it as funny as I did. I also understand people strange things as they are going under and I was told that I proudly professed that I could speak Polish......uh.....I know about 4 words......uuummmm....who knows where that came from?!?!?!? Surgery was the best possible outcome that I/we could have hoped for although it lasted about 2 hours longer than anticipated, but I had the best surgeons tending to me. Thanks to all the doctors and nurses who tended to me - I appreciate all that you have done for me since the first surgery in January to this one last week. I owe my life to all of you and that is not said half-hearted - that is a statement.

Okay so on with my blog.........when Chris and I were in our 30's we decided if we are going to have children - now was the time. And one there, I ate my way through the 9 months as I was eating for two. Step away from my Spaghettio's. We knew that when we went to the hospital we were coming home with this brand new blob called a baby. It eats, poops, cries and sleeps and the cycle continues with regularity about every 4 hours and I got little sleep. But at some point I started the baby talk. My vocabulary consisted of baa-baa, gaa-gaa, goo-goo with a little doo-doo thrown in. My friends daring one another to appear on an episode of Fear Factor, invited me out for dinner or drinks. My friends did that - once. And not again until after the first birthday and here is why.....I show up with burp stains and a diaper rag hanging out of my purse, surely no one noticed - but they did. I tried to explain, but when I started talking - a slightly distorted Betty Bop voice punctuated with goos and gaas came out. My friends sat there staring at me helpless. They didn't know what to do for me. Should they order me a shot of whiskey with a breast milk chaser??? Or did they dare allow themselves to reply with baas and boos??? They opted for the first choice -hold the breast milk. I thanked them. They call this Maternity Leave. I came to realize that even when I was around adults I talked like a "mommy" - for several years. And might I add during the those years, you also lose your identity. I become Mason's Mom or Grayson' Mom - not - Donna. I don't think that most parents knew my name until each of my kids entered the 4th grade. I did the same - it was once less thing that I had to remember or commit to. [Shoulder Shrug] You know how it goes.

And in a flash I have entered my 40's.....things begin to shift. My kids talk like adults, they get adult references and winks and I begin to say a prayer of thanks daily to the person or persons who invented under wire bras and Spanx becuase those areas began to shift as well. Also something unique to the 40's.... Cougar Leave.

Yes, I am on Cougar Leave. I went to hospital and I came home with nothing except a lot of staples and a lot of stories of hormone replacement therapy - pros and cons. Here is where Maternity Leave and Cougar Leave differ. I have not found myself without sleep - in fact - I am taking naps whenever I need. Instead of talking baby talk, I am having fairly deep conversations with Tim (our dog). He is quite agreeable and only disputes my point of view when it conflicts with going out or dinner time. Tim is very versed on national and international politics as well as up-to-date with state and local issues - which means most of the time we see eye-to-eye!!!! And my clothes, spotless and fashionable.

As my son and husband colorfully described my surgery - I thought my mom was going to pee her pants and I about fell off the gurney - laughing - they described it like this: "In your 20's and 30's, your vagina goes Vvvrrroooommm, Vvvrrrooommm. In your 40's, your vagina goes Hhhooowww" (the sound is a cross between the sound a balloon makes went it is deflating and a hybrid car running.) Although my race is currently under caution.... watch out Danica Patrick with your gasoline, needs to be refilled, vvvrrrooommm-engine because the next time I hear them say "Gentlemen, start your engines", you can bet I will be revving my hhhooowww, goes further and longer on a tank, hybrid-engine at the starting line!!!!